2014 NBA Draft

Steven Wilson

Sacramento's new addition, Nik Stauskas, flourished during his two seasons at Michigan, earning Big Ten Player of the Year and unanimous All-Big Ten first team honors following his sophomore campaign.

The 6-foot-6 guard helped lead the Wolverines to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Elite 8 berths, and was one of eight sophomores at U-M to reach 1,000 points. The savvy scorer also ranks fifth all-time with a 44.10 career three-point percentage, eighth all-time with 172 career three-point field goals and 10th all-time with 390 career three-point field goal attempts.

Off the court, the Mississauga, Ontario native left his family roots in Canada for prep school in Massachusetts at age 15. Though the transition was tough, Stauskas remained focused on schoolwork and gym-work, and dedicated himself to a training regimen suited for the pros. Ultimately, his hard work earned him a scholarship to Michigan.

After two years in college, his dream of playing in the NBA is becoming a reality.

Now, explore the following links to gain further insight into the young guard’s background, journey to the NBA and on-court accomplishments.

NBA.com Pre-Draft Profile | Video: Prospect Profile

Photo Galleries: Nik in NYC | Behind the Scenes Kings Draft

ESPN.com: The Canadian connection – Michigan Guard Nik Stauskas, an import from up North, has something to prove  - After a childhood dedicated to the game of basketball, Stauskas is living his dream and representing his country.

NBA.com: Canadians to play prominent role in 2014 Draft – The league breaks down Nik Stauskas’ origin and Canada’s role in the evolving NBA.

Draft Express: Nik Stauskas 2014 NBA Draft Media Day Interview – Get a look at Nik Stauskas’ pre-Draft Interview.

Detroit Free Press: Nik Stauskas, family 'fired up' about what NBA draft will bring - The former Michigan guard fulfilled a decade-long dream when he was selected 8th overall by the Kings.

SportsCenter Featured: Sons Of Naismith – Kenny Mayne takes a look at how our neighbors up north are influencing this year's NBA draft and how they truly are the "Sons of Naismith."

Grantland: The NBA Draft Illustrated: Shot Charts for the Lottery Picks – Get an inside look at Stauskas’ range on the court. 

Kings.com Video: Kings Select Nik Stauskas – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announces the 8th overall pick as the Sacramento Kings select Nik Stauskas. 

Kings.com Video: Nik Stauskas Interview – Stauskas speaks with ESPN correspondent Jay Williams following his selection by Sacramento.

Kings.com Video: Post-Draft Press Conference - Kings Owner Vivek Ranadivé and General Manager Pete D'Alessandro speak with media following the selection of Nik Stauskas.

MLive: Bill Simmons says Nik Stauskas will enter NBA with a 'young Manu' attitude – Grantland and ESPN’s Bill Simmons compares Stauskas’ attitude to that of San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili. 

MGoBlue.com: Trio of Wolverines Selected at 2014 NBA Draft –Wolverine Athletics stat wrap-up for all three U of M draftees.

NBA.com Video: Nik Stauskas NBA TV Interview – Stauskas sits down with Jared Greenberg from NBA TV after being selected eighth by the Sacramento Kings.

NBA.com Video: All-Access: King of the Night – Stauskas says it’s a dream come true to be a King.

NBA.com Video: Draft Review: Nik Stauskas – The NBA TV crew discusses how Stauskas will fit in with the current Kings roster.

NBA writers and analysts share their thoughts on Sacramento’s choice of Nik Stauskas with the No. 8 overall pick.

ESPN: Top skills in 2014 draft class - “I would tab Nik Stauskas of Michigan as the best overall shooter in the NBA draft.”

Grantland: The NBA Draft Illustrated: Shot Charts for the Lottery Picks - “He was born to be an elite 3-point shooter in the NBA and his numbers from college prove he’s ready.”

MLive.com: Draft day arrives sooner than expected for Michigan's Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III, Nik Stauskas – “Stauskas came from a strong prep program at St. Mark's School in Massachusetts loaded with Division I talent and was regarded as a top-100 recruit.”

Fox News: Wiggins, Stauskas highlight NBA draft class that could make Canada world basketball power - “Canada hasn't had more than two players drafted in any of the previous 20 years, and from 2001 to 2010, not a single Canadian was selected.”

NJ.com: 2014 NBA Draft: Kings take Nik Stauskas eighth - “The Sacramento Kings did extensive draft research, including crowd sourcing some of their analytics department and that process led them to Michigan sharpshooter Nik Stauskas with the eighth pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft.”

nik-stauskas-101

Nik Stauskas 101

Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro implemented groundbreaking methods leading up to Thursday’s Draft.

As part of the team’s Draft 3.0 Challenge, five finalists joined the Kings front office inside the XC on Draft Night in downtown Sacramento.

The goal was to match high-level scout evaluations to the numbers in order to find the best possible fit.

“I had my scouts with their eyes [in one room] saying ‘I like this guy,’ then I had these guys [in another room] saying, ‘I like this guy,’” said D’Alessandro. “When the two merge, you’re onto something.”

Both parties agreed on Nik Stauskas – a 6-foot-6 prospect from the University of Michigan. Fresh off a Big Ten Player of the Year selection, Stauskas entered the Draft after averaging 17.5 points per game last season as a sophomore.

Although Stauskas wasn’t a pre-Draft workout participant in Sacramento, the Kings traveled to the Midwest to see the standout scorer live.

“They came to see me play in Chicago,” said the No. 8 pick during a conference call on Thursday night. “They saw me workout and I had a chance to sit down and talk with them. They only had good things to say about me, so coming in to tonight I knew there was a possibility it could work out.”

Scouts praised his confidence on the court and off, while analysts loved his three-point accuracy and his underrated jumpshot off the dribble.

“All of us like Stauskas,” said Jesse Heussner – a senior from Dartmouth College who was part of D’Alessandro’s Draft 3.0 Advisory Council. “As a shooter, it’s hard not to like him. The thing that I like about him is that he can really shoot off the dribble. I think that separates good shooters from good scorers.”

Heussner was one of five participants who spent the day combing through information and discussing options with Chris Mullin and the team’s Basketball Operations staff.

“We all like to hear a confident answer,” said D’Alessandro. “I like to give confident answers but also in my mind see something in black and white that helps me support that answer. I think it’s just my nature. So having a group like that to help support the eye-test of my scouts was really good.”

Sacramento’s GM made sure the rigorous council recruiting process leading up to the Draft left him with the best of the best – the top analytical minds from around the country who could help find the right fit.

Eugene Martinez – a local IT strategy consultant – was one of the data-driven council members. Martinez was born in New York, but was raised in Sacramento. He went to Jesuit High School and enrolled in Berkeley post-graduation. He received his MBA from UC Davis before returning to settle down in the River City. 

A long-time Kings fan, Martinez was able to live out a childhood dream working with the team over the past month. But it was his son, Anthony, who was on cloud nine when he saw his dad talking to D’Alessandro on a Google+ Hangout when the process first began.

“He’s always asking me, ‘Dad, who are the Kings going to pick?’” teased Martinez. “It’s allowed me to have discussions with him and say, ‘Well, what do you think? What do you think they should do? Let’s look at the statistics together – let’s break this down. It’s been a good educational tool for me to use with my kids.”

Martinez works with numbers daily. He sorts through mountains of data with a fine-tooth comb, searching for possible solutions and identifying every plausible scenario. 

“Mathematics have been very influential to our decision-making process for our team,” he said. “We wanted to look at the cultural fit for the different prospects, but we [also] wanted to look at the statistics from the collegiate level that each of the players brought to the team. Where are the trends?”

One trend was very apparent to Kings Chairman and Majority Owner Vivek Ranadivé. Every time he asked about the Draft, one name came up.

“Even before last season was over, every now and then I would ask Coach (Michael Malone), ‘Who do you like in the Draft?” stated Ranadivé. “And the one name he always came up with was Nik Stauskas. And he would say, ‘V, you have to watch this kid from Michigan – he’s great. I love that kid.’ So he’s liked this kid since last season, and he’s delighted to have him on the team.”

In the end, the Kings trio of leaders landed the player for which they were hoping, and the team’s addition is equally excited for his new chapter in Sacramento.

“I’m excited to be a member of the Sacramento Kings,” said Stauskas. “I’ve only heard good things about the city and the organization, so I’m excited to get to work and help this team win.”

2014 NBA Draft

Nik Stauskas 101

Crowdsourcing, Analytics Point to Nik